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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 120 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: last · lash · calf · stem · plane · board · press · branch

  1. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. False peace will not ________________.
  22. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. press — newspapers
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. stem — of a plant
  8. branch — a division
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. last — finally
  12. board — to get on
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. last — final
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. press — to push
  20. press — a publisher
  21. last — to go on
  22. stem — to come from
  23. plane — a tool
  24. board — a committee

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com